The Hillcats offense took off behind a dominant pitching performance for Chris Masters. Lynchburg racked up 15 hits, scoring seven runs, while Masters allowed just one run over six innings. The Hillcats beat the Red Sox 7-3 avoiding the sweep in Salem.
Marcus Lemon doubled to lead of the top of the first inning. He reached third base on an Andrelton Simmons bunt single, and came around to score when Salem’s starter Stolmy Pimentel threw a ball past his first baseman on a pick off. For the third straight night in Salem, the Hillcats took the lead in the first.
This time Lynchburg was able to hang on, expanding their lead in the sixth. Four hits, two hit batters, and a walk brought 10 batters to the plate in the inning as the ‘Cats put four runs on the board.
Masters, who had held the Red Sox scoreless for the first five innings enjoyed a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. A pair of doubles broke up the shutout and Masters called it a night after six strong frames, leaving with a 5-1 lead.
Lemon and the Hillcats struck again in the eighth inning. L.V. Ware doubled to lead off the inning, and Lemon singled him home. The Hillcats would load the bases in the inning before an infield single for Christian Bethancourt scored Lemon from third for their seventh and final run. Lemon finished the night 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
LHP Ryan Buchter entered the game in the ninth for the HIllcats with a 7-1 lead. His first batter singled. Then, Matt Spring homered over the center field wall cutting the lead to four. A walk and a single later, Salem had he tying run stepping into the on-deck circle with nobody out. Buchter settled down to strikeout Peter Hissey and induce a game-ending 6-4-3 double play and the Hillcats won 7-3.
Masters(6-5) earned the win for Lynchburg, while Pimentel (0-3) suffered the loss allowing just one unearned run through three innings of work.
The Hillcats improved to 10-19 in the second half, while the Red Sox fell to 13-16.
Lynchburg is off Sunday before continuing their current road trip in Myrtle Beach on Monday at 7:05 pm. The Hillcats are 3-4 through the first seven games of the trip, with four coming up against the Pelicans Monday through Thursday.
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Chris Graham
